Packaged web applications is a web standards specification from the W3C. They are also called widgets. These are the same as UI widgets, but the difference being that, instead of just code components, they are entire web applications under a single package. The specification provides a way to list the files inside a package, setting metadata, compression methods etc to the package. All the additional metadata apart from the files are provided in a config file. The config file is an XML file whose basic contents and structure is defined by the W3C. This file is extended by the Tizen platform with Tizen specific properties.
Role in tizen apps
Tizen web applications follows the packaged web application concept. The entire application is developed using common web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript with additional JS APIs provided by Tizen. All the resources like static files, images and static data are packaged along with the app. There is minimal need for external access. The access for external information is coordinated through access policies. Since all the resources are already present in the package, it can be run as a standalone application inside the Tizen environment (controller browser like environment).
advantages
The packaged web applications have all the necessary resources packaged along with the app. There is minimal need for external access. If the application is in need of external data, then the URL from which the data needs to be accessed have to be specified in the access policy. By default the access to external URLs are blocked. The application can only access them, only if the links are specified in the policy info. This greatly enhances application security. Only the given URLs are accessible. Since the application is developed using the common web technologies, there is no specific learning curve needed to start developing with it. This makes web applications run in environments with limited network constraints like web games for TV and embedded devices.
how it helps in a tizen environment
The packaged web applications does not specify any methods on how to compress the web application. The compression method used is specific to the person or organisation who is implementing the technology. The config file provides various info on the following
- The application info
- Application features
- Accessible URLs
- Translation info
- Other key value pairs
The application manager will get info on the needed features and will allocate the specific hardware on the device when the application runs.
summing it up
The packaged web application format enables web applications to run as applications inside the Tizen environment. External URL access is allowed only if they are allowed as per the policy regulations. This enhances the application security. The application manager will ensure that, the application cannot access any resource that the application has not requested. It makes sure that the given application does to interfere with the working of the other applications, provided with the limited resources in a TV when compared to that of a PC. This makes sure our application behaves well with other apps. The packaged web application format ensures that the application is well behaved and able to access all the needed resources without any issues. It is also easy for the developer to start developing applications for them, as there is no specific learning curve needed to start with it.
